Vesuvius buries Pompeii

79 Between noon and 1 pm Mount Vesuvius (Vesuvio) erupted. The cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae were buried in volcanic ash.

The eruption caused the death of thousands, including the polymathic author and scientist, Pliny the Elder, who that day was in command of the Roman fleet at Misenum, which was not far off. Pliny launched his galleys and crossed the bay to Stabiae to observe the phenomenon directly, and also to rescue some of his friends from their perilous position on the shore of the Bay of Naples. His family was with him, including his nephew, Pliny the Younger, who has left an interesting account of what happened on the occasion ...

Categories: history, italy, ancient-rome